Warning: This review contains spoilers.
“The Fall Guy,” directed by “Bullet Train” and “Deadpool 2” filmmaker David Leitch, was released on May 3, starring Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, Emily Blunt as Jody Moreno and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tom Ryder. This film is action-packed with a balance of thrill and comedy that is flavorful and exciting, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
The movie is about Colt, Tom’s stunt double, working on a new set directed and produced by his partner Jody. However, Colt gets into a near-death accident on the job and he disappears off the grid. Colt gets a call that Tom is missing and, if not found in two days, will cost Jody the blockbuster she’s been dreaming of making her whole life.
Ryan Gosling owns the spotlight. His portrayal of Colt is graceful and well-executed, effectively making the movie and its plot all the more exciting. Having only seen a few of Gosling’s movies, I had high expectations for his performance which were fulfilled. Gosling has a talent for conveying tense themes of drama, romance and emotion at the perfect intensity without coming off as overwhelming or overly dramatic. Gosling and his stuntman’s scenes were convincing and practical, reminiscent of Leitch’s “Bullet Train.” I had to remind myself that Gosling isn’t actually a stuntman.
Gosling is masterful in embodying his character compared to his other works. For example, while he assumes his role effectively in “The Gray Man,” his embodiment of the character in “The Fall Guy” is on an entirely different level.
For the avid action movie lover, this film will prove to be a treat for the eye, as each stunt was mind-blowing due to the brilliant directing and camerawork. Standout scenes include when Colt masquerades in a bright neon outfit, swinging bottles and shattering glasses as well as a car and dog chase down a bridge. The camera angles and directing were masterful in terms of dialogue and movement. Colt having a dog for a sidekick is something that I didn’t know how much I needed until that very scene.
Which, speaking of the dog, was stellar in his spotlight. From him only responding to Colt’s French to being the embodiment of a sidekick and saving Colt several times, he’s the unsung hero in the movie.
The script was layered and nuanced. Not only did the film highlight the importance of stunt people and how underrated they are in the movie industry, but it also showed how society merely considers them “fall guys.”
I enjoyed how far the movie took this metaphor, with Tom attempting to frame Colt for murder because he was his “fall guy.” Jody’s movie production following the same course as her and Colt’s real-life relationship was a nice touch that was complemented well by the director’s choice of camera angles and split screens that matched the dialogue.
The brilliance of the screenwriting shows through comedic repetition. For example, the dog was a lovable character due to his signature move of helping Colt fight the bad guys by biting their groins. This scene was funny the first time, and the repetition of it throughout the film made it funnier every time. The same could be said when Colt is drugged while trying to find Tom and cannot get rid of a unicorn following him amid the chaos.
The use of a theme song added a unique and much-needed element to the film. In a lot of movies, different tracks are utilized in the opening, ending and throughout various major plot points; “The Fall Guy” mainly used a cover by YUNGBLUD of KISS’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”
Not only was the song choice perfect for the story and Colt’s character, but it pulled the movie together, acting as the icing on the cake. The opening credit scene featuring the song sets the story and drives it forward. Considering Colt and Jody’s lives are filled with action and romance, both on-screen as stunt performers and in their personal lives behind the scenes, having the song play in all of the major action scenes was enjoyable. With each use it got more intense, aligning with what was happening in the movie.
With each act, the movie became more enjoyable. In the third act, Jody and Colt execute their plan to reveal the truth that Tom is the murderer and not Colt, who makes a grand entrance and pulls off a seemingly impossible movie stunt. The stunt in question is a death-defying car jump. It was truly a thrilling moment to watch Colt get his confession and reclaim his identity as not only a stuntman but as the ultimate “fall guy.” Thus, the movie’s title came full circle, from Colt’s accidental fall to the attempt to have him take the fall for Tom. It was truly an exhilarating and celebratory moment.
The movie’s plot twists live up to the definition of narrative technique. From the beginning, viewers may begin suspecting that Tom is the murderer, which later proves correct. However, what lurks out of the shadows is that Tom was responsible for Colt’s nearly fatal fall at the beginning of the movie and that the movie producer, Hannah Waddingham’s Gail Meyer, was the mastermind behind everything. It turns out that the movie producer orchestrated bringing Colt back to set and sending him after Tom just so he could take the fall for him. It was so unpredictable, but well-fitting and made so much sense looking back.
Overall, there are not enough words to describe the thrills and excitement that came from watching “The Fall Guy,” which is definitely one of my favorite movies and will hopefully become one of yours.
